84 NEW SOUTH WALES. 



Miscellaneous Heritage. 



In addition to the valuable grasses and salt-bushes^ there are a num- 

 ber of herbs and shrubs which grow in varying proportions on the 

 pastoral areas of this Colony^ and provide excellent feed for stock at 

 nearly all seasons of the year. During seasons of drought the branches 

 of certain trees are cut^ the leaves of which provide feed for a great 

 many animals. Amongst a number of herbs, shrubs, and trees that 

 are favourably known to pastoralists and stockmen, the following may 

 be enumerated as illustrative of the varied character of the vegetation 

 that is suitable forage for stock : — 



Herhs. 



Daucus hracJiiatus, Sieb. '' Native carrot." An annual plant with 

 erect or decumbent, slender or stout, herbaceous stems. It is generally 

 found on rich soils all over the Colony, but more particularly in the 

 interior, where it often attains a height of 2 or 3 feet. When young, 

 this plant is exceedingly good forage, which stock of all descrip- 

 tions are remarkably fond of ; sheep particularly so, and they thrive 

 well on it. The fruits are covered with fine bristles, and when near 

 maturity are called "carrot burrs^' by stockmen. These ^' burrs" 

 adhere to the fleece with great tenacity, and it is troublesome to get 

 them out of the wool. The " native carrot " produces plenty of seed, 

 which usually ripens during the summer and autumn months. 



Tetragonia expansa, Murr. '' Warrigal cabbage." The decumbent 



or prostrate stems of this annual plant often grow to several feet in 

 length. It has a wide geographical range, being found from the brink 

 of the ocean to the arid interior, and in some districts it is fairly 

 plentiful. It is a valuable pasture plant, and in an ordinary season 

 yields a great amount of succulent herbage, which sheep and cattle 

 eat with avidity. The " Warrigal cabbage " is sometimes grown as a 

 summer vegetable in gardens, and when j^roperly cooked, it makes a 

 good table esciilent. This plant produces plenty of seed, which rij^ens 

 during the summer and autumn months. 



Trigonella suavissima, Lindl. " Scented," or ^' Darling clover." The 

 prostrate or ascending stems of this plant are generally from 1 foot 

 to 3 feet long. It is peculiar to the western country, and in some 

 districts it is fairly plentiful. When growing on rich soils that are 

 subject to periodical inundations, it produces a great amount of 

 herbage, which stock of all descriptions are particularly partial to, and 

 fatten on. Though this plant grows best, and produces more herbage, 

 on rich soils, still it is often found growing on stony rises, and in such 

 situations makes considerable growth, which is a valuable addition to 

 other herbage. The succulent stems and leaves of the ^'Darling clover" 

 make a good table esculent when cooked and served in the ordinary 

 way. This plant produces an abundance of seed, which usually ripens 

 during the summer and autumn months. 



Besides these, there are '^crow's foot" {Erodium cygnorum, Nees.) ; 

 '^ crowds foot" {Geranium dissectum, Linn.) ; ^'hogweed" {Boerhaavia 

 diffusa, Linn.) ; " native mallow " {Lavatera pleheia, Sims) ; " native 

 cress" {Blennodia nasturtioideSy'Beiitli.) ; '^native plantain" [Plantago 



